Parachute with control means



July 10, 1956 o. SCHADE PARACHUTE WITH CONTROL MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 29, 1953 hm/2424A PARACHUTE WITH CONTROL MEANS Filed Dec. 29, 1953 2 vSheets-sheaf. 2

2,754,074 Patented July 10, 1956 United shroud lines connected at one end to the canopy at circumferentially spaced points thereon, harness means 2 074 connected to the shroud lines at the other ends thereof,

V V v 7 gathering means engaging the shroud lines gathering the PARACHUTE WITH CONTROL MEANS same together and slidable thereon for adjustably limiting 4 the opening of the canopy, limiting means for limiting Oswald Schafle Wmen (Rulm Germany the movement of the gathering means toward the canopy, Application December 29, 1953, Serial No. 400,969 and control means for adjusting movement of the gathering means along the shroud lines, whereby the position of slams pnomy apphcamn Germany January 1953 10 the gathering means along the shroud lines may be ad- 11 Claims (CL justed for controlling the speed and degree of opening of the canopy.

By means of the present invention, there is provided a parachute device wherein the gathering means moves into The present invention relates to parachute devices. 1

More particularly, the present invention relates to a parachute device Which includes a means for lessening the descent of the parachute. The development of aviation, and particularly the avoiding too low a position, whic would hinder the desired operation of the gathering means. chutes. Furthermore, loads of increasing Weight and size Th hi h i i f the gathering means, h i

h been pp by means of p However, the the position thereof nearest the canopy, may be limited increase of the strength of the parachute by the use of that is, to keep the unfolding of the parachute canopy i l tively great whereby the gathe from being more or less jarring, and to control the stages tinuously d aw of opening of the parachute.

Devices P i in Pfior aTt Parachutes for Controlling by the above-mentioned central line which limits the the rate of opemng of the parachute have been found to be 40 uppermost o ition of the gathering mean unreliable, and certain of these devices have depended on of th length of the central line.

By virtue of the control arrangement embodied in the present invention, the unfolding process of the parachute parachute. Such prior art devices cannot be positively controlled when the parachute is in its extended unopened position.

It is an object, therefore, of the present invention to provide a parachute device which overcomes the disadvantages mentioned above.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a parachute device wherein the opening of the parachute may be controlled so as to avoid the shock of opening of The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both the canopyas to its construction and its method of operation, to- It is still another object of the present invention to gather ith dditional objects and advantages thereof, will Provide a Parachute device of the above yp wherein the be best understood from the following description of Opening of the CaIIOPYiS automatlcallyletalded specific embodiments when read in connection with the It is still a further object of the present invention to accompanying d i i hi h; Provide a Paraehute device of e ve type wherein the Fig. l is a view of a parachute device constructed in opening of the canopy may be automatically or manually accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the controlled. 6O parachute being shown in its extended unopened condi- It is still another object of the present invention to tion; provide a parachute device of the above type wherein Fig. 2 is a view of the device of Fig. 1 showing the means are provided to prevent the control device from parachute in a partially opened condition; keeping the canopy closed. Fig. 3 is a view of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 It is still another object of the present invention to 55 with the parachute in fully opened condition; provide a parachute device of the above type wherein the Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the control means incorspeed of falling thereof may be controlled. porated in the embodiment shown in Figs. l3;

ther objects and advantages will become apparent Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a different embodiment from the following description and the appended claims. of the present invention; and

With the above objects in view, the present invention Fig. 6 is a schematic view of still another embodiment mainly consists in a parachute device which comprises of the present invention.

in combination a canopy having an apex and a rim, Referring now to-the drawings and particularly to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-4, there is shown -a parachute having a canopy 12 to which is connected shroud lines 9 spacedcircurnferentially around canopy 12. Connected at 'the lower end of shroud litres '9 is a harness 19. Arrange-a ea the shroud lines '9 is a gathering hie'an's, also referred to herein as a segment system, which is 'c'oi'npos'e'd of rear similar areuafte segments 7, which are-preferably made or aluminum. The metal segments 7 are each formed with polished apertures 8 through which the shroud lines 9 are inserted, the shroud lines 9 passing through the inner six apertures, as more clearly shown in Fig. '4. *Shrou'd lines 9 are arranged in apertures 8 of segments 7 in *the same order in which the shroud lines are connected to the ba's'e'rirh 12a of the parachute canopy 12, and, further, are arranged in the groups in which they arefastened to the harness lli.

rhrmigh the two'outer apertures ofeachmetal segment 7 there arepassedcoritrol wires orropes 11 and 11 "which are so arranged that they hold the four segments Tim the same plane When'the guy 'wires are taut, that is Whenthe parachute is in unfolded condition. To upper control 'vvire's or ropes 1 1 there is attached, inthefembodiment illustrated in Figs. 14, a sail member 14 which is preferably "of eoriical shape, and to the lower control wires or ropes 11 there is attached alower line 13 which is connected at its lower end to harness 10.

In Figs. 4- 6 the structure of segments 7, which constitute the gathering means forthe shroud lines 9, and the arrangement of the control Wll'CS'Ol. ropes li -11 are more clearly shown. The shroud lines 90nly of the rear segments 7 are shown in 'these figures. Metal segments 7 are slidably movable'on shroud lines 9, and they are thereby adjustable to various positions 'the'realong. Thec'loser thegathering or segmentsystem 7 lies to the'base 'rim 1200f the parachute canopy 12 in the opencondition-of the parachute, the shorter are the free lengths9aof the shroud lines 9, that is, the portions of the shroud lines'9 which extend from the segments 7 to the base rim 12a. ln the first stage of unfolding of the "parachute, that is, the fullyextended unopened condition of the pa'rachutqas shown in Fig.1of'thedraiving, thesegme'nt system 7 pr ferablytakesits highest'positio'nyas'shown in "Fig. 1. In this wayftheai'rentrance opening is deliverately lcept'small whereby the unfolding of canopy T2. is delayed. v The air pressure Within the upper portionjot canopy 12due tothe great rate'o't descent nevertheless increases rapidly, and the parachute 'talr'e's a so-called ""club form, such as 'shown"in Fig. '2. Inpriorart parachute'devic'es, the completeufifolding of the canopy 12 atjtliis'stag'e then'takes placewithamor'e or less jarring effect. This opening shock, particularly at high dropping'speeds, is so*greattnanheparrsof the 'para eliute may 'he's'trained'beyond their breaking points. Furthermore, there is producedthereby danger of "bodily 'injurytothejumper.

v A'sis apparent from'the'showing inFigs. l-Bfth'e'segment system 7 'is drawn up, in the extended "condition of the parachute '(Fig. '1), to its'uppermost p sition in a positive manner. The short tree length' 9aof shroud'lines 9 do not allow a rapid enlargement of the air "entrance opening of the canopy 12, since due to a preliminary spreading "of the "base rim 12a, theup'per portions 9a of 'the s'hrendlines a'r'e'spreadoutwardly'withrespecttothe lower .portions of the shroud lines below segment system 7, and inthis'way the shroud lines are subjected'to a frictional resistance in the apertures 8 "of the segments 7. 'Aecordingly, the upper portions'9a of the shroud lines are somewhat held intheir existing le'n'gths, so'that a rapid ope'niri'gbf the base rim 12a 'is prevented. In accordance with the resultant force produced on 'the segment system 7 on the onehand by the outwardly spreading shroud line portions 9a and on the other hand by the frietional"resist'aiioe onthe shroud lines'9exer'ted'by'the segment system 7, the segment'systern '7 slides downwardly '-11ii til-the said frictional resistance thereof again predominates and -a iur-ther unfolding of the canopy 12 is prevented. Both of these actions merge together in actual operation, so that a continuous movement of the segment system 7 to its lowest position (Fig. 3) takes place. In this way, an uncontrolled and jarring unfolding of canopy 12 is avoided.

The construction of the device according to the invention is schematically shown in Figs. 4-6. In the-embodiment shown in Fig. 4, as pointed out above, a conical sail member 14 is provided which due to air pressure during the dropping of the parachute draws the gathering system 7 upwardly so that the gathering system attains its uppermost position in the extended unopened condition of the .parachute shown in Fig. 1, this uppermost position being limited by the length of the lower line 13. When the segment system 7 slides downwardly, the lower line 13 hangs loosely (Figs. Z-and 3).

Fig. 4 clearly shows apertures "20 a'tthe ends of segmerits or slide members 7,andthat 'con'trol wires or ropes 11-11 and 1111-1121 pass through apertures 20 at the end of adjacent slide'members 7. Slidemembers 7 have to be arranged equidistant from apex 12b when the parachute is folded and packed. During opening of the descending parachute, the control 'wires will become taut and the 'tensio'nwill form'the slide members into a .position perpendicular 'tothe lon axis of 'the system of control ropes and transverse to the control ropes. During vertical descent, the slide members will thus be position'ed inone horizontal plane, provided that, as stated ah ove, the slide members have been arranged .at equal distance "from the'apeX'ofth'e parachute during the-packmgof the same, Fig. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the present Invention. -In this embodiment, the lower line 13 is also prov ded, but instead of a sail'mem'ber 14 as shown in Fig. *4, there is provided an upper line 15, which extends upwardlyto the apex 12bof the canopy'12. At apex 12b aneye let merriber 16 isattached, through which .the upper line passed. The lower end of upper line 15 is connected, similarly to sail member 14, to upper control wires or ropes 11', while the other endof .upper line 15 is fastened by means "of a slidable knot 15b to apart of line 1'5 spaced somewhat below eyelet Tinember 1 6. The lcnot "15 7 is so fastened 'to "line '15 that the loop 15a formed thereby is coiitractible when line .15 is drawn downwardly. L'oo'p 1 5a serves to provide :for extension line 15 downwardly during the downward movement of "segment'syst'em 7. This extension of line 15 provided by loop 15a corresponds to the distance which thesegment system 7 moves away from the apex'12b, .as shown in the relative spacing of the segment system from the apex illustrated in Figs. 1-3. The slide resistance :of loop 15a is sufiicient to restrain the upper line 15-at the moment of e'xte'ansion of the parachute to the position shown in Fig. '1, so that the segment system 7 is drawn upwardly as far as the length -of lower -line 13 permits. Too low a position of the segment system -7, which would not-allow proper operation of "the present invention, is avoided by this restraint from above.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 5 may be modified to provide different constructions,-as, for example, by-combining the sail member 14 together with the upper line 15 to' therebyzprovide-for an upward restraint on the segment' system 7. 'Furthermorainstead offproviding a-contrac'tible loop 15a, :the 'upper end =of upper lin'e 15 may merely be formed with a knot withoutbeing-directly-attach'ed tothe line 1 S itselffthe size of the eyelet member '16 through whieh-line 1'5 passesb'ing' madesmall' enough to provide thedesiredifrictional resistance to thepassingo'f theline' therethrough during downward pulling 'of'the'line 15. In these-embodiments corresponding to the'Fig. 5 construction, it is only necessary that the "slidingiricfion -provided inthe apex eytet be greaterthan the friction exerted againsrtheshrmrd lines9 by the segment-system Fig. 6 shows a particularly advantageous construction of the present device. In this embodiment, the upper line 15 is also passed through an eyelet member 16 at the apex of canopy 12, but instead of forming a loop as shown in Fig. 5, line 15 extends with a lower portion thereof down to the harness 10 through the segment system 7, the lower end 151') being connected to the line 13. Both lines 13 and 15 thereby form a continuous line. The lower line 13 is not fixedly attached to harness 10, but rather passes through guide rings 17-1711 which are attached to harness 10 spaced from each other, and line 13 then continues into portion 15b which extends upwardly and through the apex eyelet 16. The portion of line 13 between the two guide rings 17-17a is provided with a stop knot 18, whereby the uppermost position of the segment system 7 is limited in a manner analogous to the embodiments shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The spacing of the two guide rings 1717a, as well as the downwardly hanging portion 150 of line 15, provides the necessary extension of the line 15 in a manner analogous to the loop 15a shown in Fig. 5. The proper control of the adjusting system in the extended position of the parachute is, therefore, also assured by this arrangement.

In addition, it is also possible by means of the line 15b to act on line 15 from above the control system. By

the downward sliding of the segment system 7, so that the longed period. He can himself again raise the segment system 7 after it has slid downwardly and thereby can again return the parachute to the stages of unfolding shown in Figs. 2 and 1. This control of the inflation of the parachute while it is dropping places the jumper in a position to increase his rate of descent for the purpose of avoiding an unfavorable landing place on which he would have been expected to drop under a normal rate of descent due to the influence of drift. The jumper may, also, by pulling down on line 13, cause the canopy 12 to open further so as to reduce the rate of descent.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of parachute device diifering from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in parachute opening control device, it is Without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptions should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A parachute device, comprising, in combination, a canopy having an apex and a rim; shroud lines connected at one end to said canopy at circumferentially spaced points thereon; harness means connected to said shroud lines at the other ends thereof; a plurality of gathering means engaging said shroud lines gathering the same together and slidable thereon for adjustably limiting the 3. A parachute device, comprising, in combination, a canopy having an apex and a rim; shroud lines connected at one end to said canopy at circumferentially spaced points thereon; harness means connected to said shroud lines at the other ends thereof; a plurality of arcuate said sets of ends of said control ropes.

4. A parachute device, comprising, in combination, a canopy having an apex and a rim; shroud lines connected connecting the other set of ends of said control ropes and adapted to offer resistance during the movement through air.

5. A parachute device, comprising, in combination, a canopy having an apex and a rim; shroud lines connected at one end to said canopy at circumferentially spaced points thereon; harness means connected to said shroud lines at the other ends thereof; a plurality of gathering means engaging said shroud lines gathering the same together and slidable thereon for adjustably limiting the opening of said canopy, said gathering means being formed with apertures; and control means including a plurality of control ropes, said control ropes being connected at one set of ends thereof to each other and to said harness means, each of said control ropes 'slidably passing through two of said apertures respectively located in adiacentjgathering means; and actuating means comprising afreshonical tubular sail member connecting the other set (if ends or said control ropes and adapted to offer resistance darin "the movement through air.

"6. 1A parachute device, co p'rising, in combination, a canopy having an apex and a 'rim; shroud 'lins connected at one end to said canopy at circumferentially spaced points thereon; harness means connected 'to said shroud lines at 'theother ends thereof; a plurality of gathering means engaging said shroud lines gathering the same together and slidable thereon for adjustably limiting 'the opening of said canopy, said gathering means being formed w vith apertures; and control means including a plurality of control ropes, said control ropes being connected atone set of ends thereof to each other and to said 'har-n'ess means and being connected at the other set of ends "thereof to each other and to said canopy at the apex of the same, each'of said control ropes slidably passing through two of said apertures respectively located in adjacent gathering means.

7. A parachute device, comprising, in combination, a

canopy having an apex and a rim, and having an eyelet member at said apex; shroud lines connected at one end to said canopy at circumferen'tially spaced points'the'reon; harnessr'n'eans connected 'to said shroud lines at the other ends thereof; a plurality of gathering means engaging said shroud lines gathering the same together and slidable thereon for adjustably limiting the opening of said canopy, said gathering means being formed with apertures; and control means including a plurality of control ropes, said control ropes being connected at one set of ends thereof to each other and to said harness means and "being connected at the other set of ends thereof to each other; and an actuating line connected to said other set of ends of said control ropes and passing through said eyelet members at said apex of said canopy, each of said control ropes slidably passing through two of said apertures respectively located in adjacent gathering means.

'8. A parachute device, comprising, in combination, a canopy having an apex and a rim, and having an eyelet member at said apex, shroudlines connected at one end to said canopy at circumferentially spaced points thereon;

harness means connected to said shroud lines at the other ends thereof; a plurality of gathering means engaging said shroud lines gathering the same together and slidable thereon'for adjus'tablylimiting the opening of said canopy, said gathering means being formed with apertures; and control-means including a plurality of control ropes, said control ropes being connected at one set of ends thereof to each other and to said harness means and being connected at the other set of ends thereof to each other; and an actuating line connected at one end thereof to said other set of ends of said control ropes, passing through 1 said eyelet m'emberat said apex of said canopy, and being bent upon itself, the other end of said line 'beingslidably connected to said line so as to form a slip noose, each of said control ropes slidably passing through two of said apertures respectively located in adyacent gathering means.

9. IA parachute device, comprising, in combination, a canopy having an apex and a rim, and having an eyelet member at said apex; shroud lines connected at one end to said canopy atcircumferentially spaced points thereon;

harness means connected to said shroud lines at the other 'ends thereof; a plurality of gathering means engaging said shroud l lines gathering the same together and slidable th'ereonfor 'adjus'tably'liniiting the opening-of said canopy, said gathering means being formed with apertures; and control means-including a pluralit-ybf control ropes, said control ropes being connected at one set of ends "thereof to each other and to said Tharness means and being connected 'at'theother set of ends thereof to each other; and an actuating line having one end connected to said other set of-ends of said control ropes and passing through said eyelet member at said apex of said canopy and being connected at its other end'to said harness means, each of said control ropes slidably passing through two of said apertures respectivelydocated in'adjacent gathering means.

10. A parachute device comprising, in combination, a

" canopy having an apex and 'a rim, and having an eyelet member at said apex; shroud lines connected at one end to said canopy at circumferentially spaced pointsfthereon; harness means connected to said shroud lines at "the other ends thereof; at least one ring member hired on 's aid harness means; a plurality of gathering means engaging said shroud lines gathering the same together and slidable thereon for adjustably iim'itingthe opening of said canopy, said -gathering means being formed with apertures; and control means including'a plurality of control "ropes, said control ropes being connected 'at one 'set'of ends thereof to each other and'being connected at the other set of ends to each other, each of said control ropes 'slidably passing through two of said apertures respectively located in adjacent gathering means; and an actuating line having one end connected to said other set of ends of said control ropes and-pas'ng'through said eyelet member at said apex of said c'anopy'and through said ring member on said harness and being'connected on its other end to said one set of ends of said control ropes.

11. A parachute device comprising, in combination, a canopy having an apex anda rim; shroud lines connected at one "end to said cano'py at circumferentially spaced points thereon; harness "means connected to said shroud lines at the'other -end's thereof; a plurality of arcuate slide members arranged in end to end relationship'eac-h formed with 'a series'of apertures through which said shroud lines pass and with two end apertures formed at the ends of said slide fme'rnb'ers, said slide -members gathering said shroud lines together and being slidable thereon for adjustably limiting 'apluralit-y of control ropes,*said control ropes being connected at one 'set'of ends thereof to each other and to said harness means and beingconnected at the other set of ends thereof toe'ach other, each of said control ropes 'slidably passing through two adjacent end apertures of two adjacent slide members, and actuating'means connected to the other set of ends of said control "ropes and adaptedto move apart said sets of ends of said control ropes.

References Cited int-he file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,266,508 Ludtke May 14, 1918 2,308,797 Nasca Jan. 19, 1943 2,511,601 Smith June 13, 1950 2,525,798 Hattan Oct. 17, 1950 2,566,585 Smith c- Sept. 4, 1951 2,610,008 Smith Sept. 9, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 483,042 Germany July '5, 1930 

